BILL NUMBER: ACR 6	CHAPTERED  03/24/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   9
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   MARCH 24, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   MARCH 22, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 22, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 11, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   FEBRUARY 8, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Reyes
   (Principal coauthor:  Senator Poochigian)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ashburn, Briggs, Cardoza, Firebaugh,
Florez, House, Kuehl,  Machado, Ackerman, Alquist, Aroner, Bates,
Battin, Baugh, Brewer, Calderon, Campbell, Cardenas, Corbett, Correa,
Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson, Dutra, Frusetta, Gallegos, Havice,
Hertzberg, Honda, Jackson, Keeley, Knox, Leach, Lempert, Leonard,
Longville, Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Mazzoni, Nakano, Oller,
Papan, Pescetti, Romero, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Soto, Steinberg,
Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thompson, Thomson, Torlakson, Villaraigosa,
Vincent, Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wildman, Wright, and
Zettel)

                        FEBRUARY 4, 1999

   Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 6--Relative to agriculture.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 6, Reyes.  Agriculture:  frost damage.
   This measure would request the Public Utilities Commission to
cooperate with the state's public utilities in immediately approving
advice filings to establish appropriate payment deferral programs for
citrus growers whose crops were destroyed as a result of the cold
storms and consequent frost damage that occurred in December, 1998.
The measure would also request the commission to authorize recovery
for the actual administrative costs, with the exception of interest
foregone on deferred amounts, and recovery of uncollected deferred
amounts incurred by the state's public utilities as a result of this
program.




   WHEREAS, The cold storms and consequent frost damage that occurred
in this state during December of 1998 have caused severe economic
damage to agricultural interests in California; and
   WHEREAS, Many citrus farmers in the seven counties of Fresno,
Kern, Kings, Madera, Monterey, Tulare, and Ventura affected by the
cold storms have lost a large percentage of their crops this year;
and
   WHEREAS, California's citrus industry and the many people engaged
in that industry contribute greatly to the state's economy; and
   WHEREAS, The Legislature recognized the significance of California'
s citrus industry by approving Assembly Bill 20 of the 1991-92 First
Extraordinary Session (Bronzan, Ch. 8, Stats. of 1991-92 1st Ex.
Sess.), in response to similar, destructive freeze conditions which
occurred in December of 1990; and
   WHEREAS, Section 744.5 of the Public Utilities Code, as
implemented by the enactment of AB 20, required the Public Utilities
Commission to require public utilities to establish payment deferral
programs in 1991-92 for citrus growers who were able to provide
verification of freeze-related crop losses of not less than 50
percent; and
   WHEREAS, The Public Utilities Commission passed Resolution E-3245
in 1991 and accepted advice filings from public utilities, that were
submitted in order to establish special citrus payment deferral
accounts; and
   WHEREAS, It is appropriate, given the current economic disaster
that has crippled the California citrus industry, for the state's
public utilities to reinstate payment deferral programs for citrus
growers as expediently as possible; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
hereby respectfully requests the Public Utilities Commission to
cooperate with the state's public utilities in immediately approving
advice filings to establish appropriate payment deferral programs for
citrus growers whose crops were destroyed as a result of the cold
storms and consequent frost damage that occurred in December of 1998;
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California also
respectfully requests the Public Utilities Commission to authorize
recovery for the actual administrative costs, with the exception of
interest foregone on deferred amounts, and recovery of uncollected
deferred amounts incurred by the state's public utilities as a result
of this program; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the commissioners and the Executive Director of
the Public Utilities Commission.
